Dr Amy Jane Barnes
@amyjanebarnes.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer & Staff Tutor in Art History, OU. Museums, heritage, visual culture, Chinese things. Thoughts are my own. She/her
open.ac.uk/people/ajb2863
open.ac.uk/people/ajb2863
Pinned
I haven't introduced myself, so here goes. I'm a senior lecturer at the Open University, interested in museums, collections, and Chinese things, and especially (right now) posters and porcelains from the Cultural Revolution. :)
Student awards day! How brilliant our students are! And how brilliant is the OU?!
November 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Student awards day! How brilliant our students are! And how brilliant is the OU?!
And this demonstrates why visual literacy is so important!
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
And this demonstrates why visual literacy is so important!
Horror of horrors! I’ve run out of green tea! A sorry state of affairs. I think it might even warrant an emergency Tescos run!
November 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Horror of horrors! I’ve run out of green tea! A sorry state of affairs. I think it might even warrant an emergency Tescos run!
Ooh, The Hay Wain’s coming back home to Suffolk next year! #Constable250 www.ipswich.gov.uk/ipswich-news...
The Hay Wain to visit Suffolk for the first time as part of CONSTABLE 250 | ipswich.gov.uk
Exciting news for art lovers; the world-famous Hay Wain masterpiece by John Constable is coming to Ipswich.
www.ipswich.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Ooh, The Hay Wain’s coming back home to Suffolk next year! #Constable250 www.ipswich.gov.uk/ipswich-news...
Revising for my Chinese (spoken) assignment tomorrow evening. A very useful exercise in putting myself in OU students’ shoes! It’s a very straightforward assignment but I am extremely nervous!
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Revising for my Chinese (spoken) assignment tomorrow evening. A very useful exercise in putting myself in OU students’ shoes! It’s a very straightforward assignment but I am extremely nervous!
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
So anyway, Rosalind Franklin
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM
So anyway, Rosalind Franklin
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
Outstanding, no notes
November 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Outstanding, no notes
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show www.bbc.com/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show
Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.
www.bbc.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:32 AM
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
'“What’s particularly exciting is that the findings show these benefits are universal – they can be experienced by anyone. We want to encourage everyone to make time to visit their local museum or gallery and experience these powerful effects for themselves.”' (Jenny Waldman, Art Fund) 3/3
Art Fund study shows that viewing art has immediate, measurable benefits for our health and wellbeing
A new study by Art Fund’s National Art Pass provides compelling scientific evidence that viewing art has immediate, measurable benefits for our health and wellbeing.
www.artfund.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
'“What’s particularly exciting is that the findings show these benefits are universal – they can be experienced by anyone. We want to encourage everyone to make time to visit their local museum or gallery and experience these powerful effects for themselves.”' (Jenny Waldman, Art Fund) 3/3
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
'The study, led by King’s College London, involved 50 people aged between 18 and 40 in the UK. Half viewed original artwork at the Courtauld Gallery in London, while the other half looked at copies of the same paintings in a non-gallery environment.' 2/3
bibli.artfund.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
'The study, led by King’s College London, involved 50 people aged between 18 and 40 in the UK. Half viewed original artwork at the Courtauld Gallery in London, while the other half looked at copies of the same paintings in a non-gallery environment.' 2/3
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
'Enjoying original works of art in a gallery can relieve stress, reduce the risk of heart disease and boost your immune system, according to the first study of its kind.'
(Actually, much previous evidence re mental health benefits).
Mindboggling to cut the Arts, Humanities in this context. 1/3
(Actually, much previous evidence re mental health benefits).
Mindboggling to cut the Arts, Humanities in this context. 1/3
Picture of health: going to art galleries can improve wellbeing, study reveals
Viewing original works of art can relieve stress, cut heart disease risk and boost immune system, first study of its kind finds
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
'Enjoying original works of art in a gallery can relieve stress, reduce the risk of heart disease and boost your immune system, according to the first study of its kind.'
(Actually, much previous evidence re mental health benefits).
Mindboggling to cut the Arts, Humanities in this context. 1/3
(Actually, much previous evidence re mental health benefits).
Mindboggling to cut the Arts, Humanities in this context. 1/3
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
Step into the heritage of The Open University! 🎓
Our latest YouTube Short takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Walton Hall campus, filmed for Heritage Open Days 2025. Discover the peaceful Legacy Garden, the historic St Michael’s Church & more... 👇
youtube.com/shorts/iBOAa...
#MiltonKeynes
Our latest YouTube Short takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Walton Hall campus, filmed for Heritage Open Days 2025. Discover the peaceful Legacy Garden, the historic St Michael’s Church & more... 👇
youtube.com/shorts/iBOAa...
#MiltonKeynes
Heritage Open Days 2025: #OpenUniversity Archive Walton Hall campus tour #miltonkeynes
YouTube video by The Open University Library
youtube.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Step into the heritage of The Open University! 🎓
Our latest YouTube Short takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Walton Hall campus, filmed for Heritage Open Days 2025. Discover the peaceful Legacy Garden, the historic St Michael’s Church & more... 👇
youtube.com/shorts/iBOAa...
#MiltonKeynes
Our latest YouTube Short takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Walton Hall campus, filmed for Heritage Open Days 2025. Discover the peaceful Legacy Garden, the historic St Michael’s Church & more... 👇
youtube.com/shorts/iBOAa...
#MiltonKeynes
Wouldn’t it be lovely if academia wasn’t quite so ableist?
October 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Wouldn’t it be lovely if academia wasn’t quite so ableist?
Virtually at the @museumsassociation.org conference today and tomorrow. I miss the days and sense of community of live tweeting.
October 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Virtually at the @museumsassociation.org conference today and tomorrow. I miss the days and sense of community of live tweeting.
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
Hi, I’m Julie Cruse. I created AcademicAbuse.com – a dashboard of data, resources & tools to help survivors of academic abuse survive and safely speak out. (1/9 🧵)
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
September 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Hi, I’m Julie Cruse. I created AcademicAbuse.com – a dashboard of data, resources & tools to help survivors of academic abuse survive and safely speak out. (1/9 🧵)
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾🔬 👩🏼🔬 👩🏾🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
This is very interesting. HMRC doing stuff that the DfE should also be doing.
I missed this when it came out in March but if you're affected by dyscalculia you might find it interesting.
Navigating dyscalculia: Designing with empathy in mind accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2025/03/06/n...
And for those who don't know much about dyscalculia this might help understand it better.
Navigating dyscalculia: Designing with empathy in mind accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2025/03/06/n...
And for those who don't know much about dyscalculia this might help understand it better.
Navigating dyscalculia: Designing with empathy in mind
1 in 20 people in the UK have dyscalculia. Our new accessibility persona highlights several common barriers that individuals with dyscalculia may face when using poorly designed digital services.
accessibility.blog.gov.uk
September 26, 2025 at 7:53 AM
This is very interesting. HMRC doing stuff that the DfE should also be doing.
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
Just a reminder before the “big announcement” today.
Autism was discovered in 1911 and the modern definition of Autism came in 1943.
Tylenol wasn’t widely used until the 1950s.
Anyone trying to tell you that Tylenol causes Autism isn’t someone that should be taken seriously.
Autism was discovered in 1911 and the modern definition of Autism came in 1943.
Tylenol wasn’t widely used until the 1950s.
Anyone trying to tell you that Tylenol causes Autism isn’t someone that should be taken seriously.
September 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Just a reminder before the “big announcement” today.
Autism was discovered in 1911 and the modern definition of Autism came in 1943.
Tylenol wasn’t widely used until the 1950s.
Anyone trying to tell you that Tylenol causes Autism isn’t someone that should be taken seriously.
Autism was discovered in 1911 and the modern definition of Autism came in 1943.
Tylenol wasn’t widely used until the 1950s.
Anyone trying to tell you that Tylenol causes Autism isn’t someone that should be taken seriously.
Facebook has reminded me that I submitted my thesis 16 years ago. 😮
September 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Facebook has reminded me that I submitted my thesis 16 years ago. 😮
Bluesky educators, please enlighten me. Is use of emdashes really taught in schools these days? Cos I would be very surprised if they were …
August 19, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Bluesky educators, please enlighten me. Is use of emdashes really taught in schools these days? Cos I would be very surprised if they were …
Garden officing this afternoon. Here’s the set up. Unseen, new garden parasol!
August 14, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Garden officing this afternoon. Here’s the set up. Unseen, new garden parasol!
Reposted by Dr Amy Jane Barnes
Here's your annual reminder: whether you received A-level results today, years ago, or never, there's space for you at the @openuniversity.bsky.social!
August 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Here's your annual reminder: whether you received A-level results today, years ago, or never, there's space for you at the @openuniversity.bsky.social!
Going to check myself here, because even though I had been predicted three As (ridiculous), I did achieve a B, a C and an E while experiencing a period of very poor mental health (undiagnosed OCD and depression). So actually, I think I did rather well! :)
Royally effed up my A Levels, went through clearing, it eventually worked out but it was absolutely rotten at the time. So very many sympathies to anyone going through the same thing now.
August 14, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Going to check myself here, because even though I had been predicted three As (ridiculous), I did achieve a B, a C and an E while experiencing a period of very poor mental health (undiagnosed OCD and depression). So actually, I think I did rather well! :)
A Levels results day still stresses me out … 31 years later. 😓😓😓
August 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
A Levels results day still stresses me out … 31 years later. 😓😓😓